Effects of Cannabis and Alcohol Consumption on Teenagers: What Is the Lesser Evil?

Many things that are okay
for adults may turn out damaging for the developing bodies of
teenagers. It is known that binge drinking is harmful to adolescents.
But what has a worse effect on them—alcohol
or cannabis consumption?

Unfortunately,
we need years to gather more data that will give an accurate answer
to this question. However, there are some studies that provide us
with some insight on the matter.

First
of all, we need to highlight the common qualities that both
substances share. Alcohol and marijuana have depressant effects on
the brains of adolescents. A teenage brain differs from an adult's
one. It is more excitable and has more developed pleasure, reward,
and anxiety centers. It is partially the reason why kids cannot
restrain from pleasures like an adult would.

Another
trait that alcohol and weed share is that they quiet our excitability
and make us drowsy. Taking into account that teens are more active in
this aspect to begin with, they require greater amounts to get the
same effects as adults.

IInfluence of Cannabis on Child's and Teen's Brain

As many pharmaceutical drugs are designed for adults, children do not always respond to them the same way their parents do. But what can doctors do if a child is unresponsive to the conventional treatment?

This
issue was studied in 2016 by the researchers from the UK. This
study, published in Translational
Psychiatry, shows that
teens experience less psychoactivity and get stoned harder than
adults when given the same amount of weed.

Considering
that binge drinking and cannabis consumption are so popular among
adolescents, they resort to using enormous amounts of the substances.

Drinking

Now,
let us focus on the peculiarities of binge drinking and its impact.

One
thing that distinguishes alcohol from the cannabis plant is that the
former can cause a complete memory blackout. Heavy drinking results
in the temporary loss of ability to record memories. According to the
neuroscientist Dr. Frances Jensen, teenage binge drinking can lead to
the death of brain cells while the same amount of alcohol causes only
bad sedation in an adult body.

Besides,
liquor also harms teens' motor skills, which may lead to physical
injuries. Thus, car accidents, increased risks of violence, and
unsafe sexual encounters are the common consequences of drinking.
There is also the danger of alcohol poisoning and loss of
consciousness, which are harmful to the brain's long-term health.

Cannabis

A
crucial factor of this comparison is that teenage cannabis
consumption has been studied less than binge drinking. However, there
is evidence that the plant has some side effects. Once ingested, its
components bind to our own cannabinoid receptors. Through them, the
herb can calm down our brains. There are two sides to this impact. On
the one hand, it can be beneficial for children with epilepsy and
some other ailments. On the other hand, long-term use disturbs the
process of learning and memorizing. Besides, cannabinoids stay in the
child's body longer. It does not mean that teens stay high for a
longer time. After the initial euphoria, they start feeling fatigued,
unfocused, and groggy.

Pediatricians Warn About Potential Cannabis Harm for Teenagers

Cannabis is currently included in the treatment for a wide range of ailments. Although marijuana can eliminate some conditions in adults, teen usage of the herb can be very risky. An influential group of healthcare professionals is warning everyone of the dangers of weed use by kids under the age of 21.

There
are still debates over whether cannabis impacts cognitive learning or
not. There is a
study that suggests that teens who start consuming weed before
they turn 16 show increased impulsivity and brain changes. Another
study, in
its turn, has found no correlation between teen's IQ and pot.

In
general, the existing research suggests that binge drinking is more
damaging for teens' brains than cannabis consumption.

Medical Uses of Marijuana: Why Is Cannabis Better Than Alcohol?

While it seems that marijuana use and drinking alcohol have nothing in common, some people continue comparing these two things over and over again.

However,
there is a risk group that may suffer from both of them especially
severely. Chronic consumers who have a predisposition to psychotic
disorders have greater chances to develop early-onset psychosis.

Cannabis is currently included in the treatment for a wide range of ailments. Although marijuana can eliminate some conditions in adults, teen usage of the herb can be very risky. An influential group of healthcare professionals is warning everyone of the dangers of weed use by kids under the age of 21.

As many pharmaceutical drugs are designed for adults, children do not always respond to them the same way their parents do. But what can doctors do if a child is unresponsive to the conventional treatment?